Editorial: Take this N.J. flu season seriously

Calley Sheairod (foreground) receives a flu shot from Trenton senior public health nurse Sharron Win and Joseph Kuhn receives a flu shot from Trenton nurse consultant Jasmine Abdul-Raheem at St. James Church in Trenton as part of the cityâs flu vaccine program for senior citizens and adults with chronic illness. Martin Griff / The Times of Trenton

From all accounts, this flu season is already proving to be a tough one in New Jersey and across the country.

The strain making the rounds is a tenacious adversary.

And there’s no mistaking its arrival, as Times staffer Christina Izzo reported last week.
“Doctors say it hits you like a ton of bricks. With a 102-degree fever, you struggle to get out of bed. With chills, sweats and body aches, it can be deadly for some,” she wrote. “And once you get it, you will never want to experience it again.”

According to federal health officials, the flu already has sent more than 3,700 people to the hospital and 20 children have died. Two of those deaths were in New Jersey.

During the last week of 2012, there were more than twice the number of patients with flulike symptoms visiting emergency rooms as there were during the same week in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Late last week, the cases continued to amass with health officials in Mercer County noting a spike in the number of patients visiting emergency rooms and urgent care clinics.

It’s possible that this year’s early arrival of the flu season will be followed by an early departure, but no one knows for sure.

Health workers are stressing what they do know: It’s not too late to get a flu shot and there are precautions to prevent the viral infection that unleashes the misery Izzo describes so well.

The CDC advises vaccinations for those who are at high risk of developing serious complications if they get sick with the flu. That includes patients with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease; pregnant women; and those 65 and older. The flu can be especially tough on people in that age group; about 90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older.

Vaccination is also recommended for those who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications.

It’s also important to remember that the flu virus can be spread from a distance of six feet and a day before symptoms become apparent.

And finally, at the risk of nagging, adhering to that timeworn advice to stay home when you’re feeling sick and washing your hands often and thoroughly may prevent another case of the flu.